Final answer:
Spinal nerves exit superiorly to their corresponding vertebrae up until C7 in the cervical region. From C8 onwards, the nerves exit inferiorly, with thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal nerves following a pattern of exiting between the vertebra of the same designation and the next one.
Step-by-step explanation:
The spinal nerves exit superiorly to their corresponding vertebrae in the cervical region up to C7. However, beginning with C8, the pattern changes and the nerves exit inferiorly to the vertebrae they are named after. Specifically, C8 emerges between the seventh cervical vertebra and the first thoracic vertebra, while the thoracic and lumbar nerves each emerge between the vertebra that has the same designation and the next vertebra.
The shift occurs because the cervical spinal nerves are numbered for the vertebra below, except C8, which is named for the vertebra above since there is no C8 vertebra. This pattern continues down the vertebral column, with thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal nerves emerging from the intervertebral foramina at levels corresponding to their designation.